Quincy Amarikwa fights off a Columbus defender in the Rapids' 2012 season-opener.

The Rapids on Thursday jettisoned three players from their roster, including Quincy Amarikwa, in a budget-boosting move. Amarikwa, Ross LaBauex and Eddie Ababio were waived as part of 18 cuts around the MLS.

After July 1, MLS player contracts are guaranteed, making it more difficult for teams to match contracts under the league salary cap if they want to make a roster move later in the season.

Amarikwa was a standby reserve a year ago with former coach Gary Smith, playing in 15 games including five starts. This season, he seemed to fall out of favor with coach Oscar Pareja, playing in just three games. But he did score a head-turning goal in the Rapids’ season-opening, 2-0 victory over Columbus in March.

LaBauex was the Rapids’ second-round draft pick in 2010 and played in 18 games for the team, but just two this season.

Ababio, a first-round draft choice in 2011, did not play in an MLS regular-season game.

** Teams are permitted a maximum of 30 players eligible to play, of which 20 count against the MLS-imposed salary budget of $2,810,000 (Senior Roster).

** Spots 21-30 do not count against the club’s salary budget. Clubs may elect to leave up to two of these roster spots vacant and use $35,000 for each empty spot as allocation money (ie, for players on Senior Roster).